refuge
gb/ɹˈɛfjud͡ʒ/ us/ɹˈɛfjud͡ʒ/
B1
English
~ 3100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
Place of safety or protection
A place or situation that keeps you safe from danger or bad things.
Usage pattern:
to seek/take/find refuge [in/from something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'refuge' with 'refugee'. 'Refuge' is the safe place, while 'refugee' is the person seeking safety.
Synonyms
shelter (Often refers to physical cover from weather or danger, but can be used similarly.)
|
sanctuary (Implies a safe place, often with a sense of peace or sacredness.)
Antonyms
exposure (Being left unprotected or in danger.)
Collocations
seek refuge
|take refuge
|find refuge
|offer refuge
|flee to refuge
Themes
safety
|daily life
|emotions
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Hundreds of people took refuge in the school during the storm.
- The cabin provided refuge from the freezing wind.
- She found emotional refuge in her art.
- The refugees sought refuge across the border.
- They offered refuge to the injured hikers.
Learner examples
- We took refuge in a small house during the rain.
- The church gave refuge to people without homes.
- He found refuge in his friend's home.
- They ran to the cave for refuge.
- She offered refuge to the lost dog.
Noun
B2
entity
2
Source of comfort or relief
Something that makes you feel better when life is hard.
Usage pattern:
to find refuge [in something]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this meaning can be abstract and not a physical place.
Synonyms
comfort (General feeling of ease and support; less about safety from danger.)
|
haven (A safe and peaceful place, often metaphorical.)
Antonyms
distress (A state of suffering or discomfort, opposite of relief.)
Collocations
find refuge in music
|emotional refuge
|mental refuge
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|relationships
Examples
- Reading was her refuge during difficult times.
- He found refuge in meditation after his stressful day.
- Nature walks became a refuge from city life.
Learner examples
- I find refuge in books when I am sad.
- Music is his refuge after work.
- She takes refuge in her garden every weekend.
Grammar
Dictionary form
refuge
IPA
GB/ɹˈɛfjud͡ʒ/
US/ɹˈɛfjud͡ʒ/
Syllables & stress
refuge (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (refuge)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: refuge
- Plural: refuge, refuges
Word family
Forms
refuges
noun
Core family
refugee
noun B1
Expressions
offer refuge
1/ˈɔfɚ ɹˈɛfjud͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
Give someone safety or protection
To give someone a safe place from danger.
Examples
- The country offered refuge to those fleeing war.
- They offered refuge to the injured animals.
take refuge in
1/tˈeɪk ɹˈɛfjud͡ʒ ˈɪn/
fixed phrase
Go to something for safety/comfort
To go to a place or do something to feel safe or better.
Examples
- During the storm, we took refuge in a nearby shop.
- She took refuge in painting after her loss.
seek refuge
1/sˈik ɹˈɛfjud͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
look for safety from danger
To look for a safe place away from danger or trouble.
Examples
- They sought refuge in a nearby church during the storm.
- Many families sought refuge in shelters during the flood.
- Many people sought refuge abroad during the war.
- They sought refuge from the heat under a large tree.